The number of EU nationals living in the Netherlands rose by just 3,000 in the first three months of this year, a drop of 50% when compared with the same period in 2024, according to new figures from national statistics agency CBS.

The increase in the EU population is also down by two-thirds on the first quarter of 2023. In particular, fewer people from Poland and Bulgaria were recorded, the CBS said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, EU nationals accounted for the largest part of the population increase.

The CBS figures also show the Indian population grew by 600, compared with 840 in 2024 and there was also a dip in the increase in South African immigrants. There was, however, a slight increase in the size of the US population.

Immigration lawyers and relocation agencies say there is anecdotal evidence of a rise in US immigration following the re-election of Donald Trump to a second presidential term.

The downturn in arrivals from typical “expat” countries is further highlighted by figures from the Netherlands’ international arrival centres, which help newcomers with paperwork and settling in.

Last year, just over 24,400 people used their services, compared with nearly 33,000 the year before.

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The centres are typically used by people coming to the Netherlands on highly skilled migrant visas and their families, and do not include all new arrivals.

Government targets

The right-wing Dutch government is considering setting specific targets to limit immigration and ensure the population remains below 20 million by 2050.

Immigration minister Marjolein Faber and social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum said last December that the coalition was embracing a report by the government’s demographic development commission, which recommends a population ceiling of 19 to 20 million inhabitants.

The population of the Netherlands is currently just over 18 million.

Nevertheless, economists and statisticians have repeatedly warned that the Netherlands will need to bring in more foreign workers to cope with an ageing population and to fill workforce gaps.

Overall growth

The population of the Netherlands as a whole grew by nearly 21,000 in the first quarter of 2025, in line with the same period last year.

Almost 31,000 extra people came to live in the Netherlands due to positive net migration. At the same time, however, the death rate exceeded the birth rate – as it did last year – offsetting the increase by some 10,000.